DOI issue:
No. 35 (February, 1896)
DOI article:Sharp, Herbert: A short account of the work of Edward John Poynter
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17296#0019
The Work of E. J. Poynter, R.A.
tions to a new Bible which Messrs. Dalziel pro-
posed to publish ; but this undertaking was never
carried out. Other leading artists, amongst whom
were Sir F. Leighton, Sir J. Millais, and Mr. Ford
Madox Brown, were also employed on the work, and
some of these blocks are collected and shown with
other work of the kind at South Kensington
Museum. In 1867, having again chosen a subject
dealing with Egyptian life, Mr. Poynter produced
his great picture, Israel in Egypt, representing the
tion of modern days. Every part of this picture
carries interest, from the upper portion, where the
soldier in shadow is fixing the javelin, with figures
of the besieged on the ramparts seen through the
opening; to the group of nude soldiers below in
their admirable poses of vigorous action, pulling
down the huge arm while exposed to their opponents'
arrows; the captain and his legions behind, and in
the distance the battering-ram, with other appli-
ances for carrying on a siege. The whole forms a
SELECTION'S FROM THE DESIGN'S FOR "THE FOUR SEASONS " AND "THE FOUR ELEMENTS"
BY E. J. POYNTER, R.A.
tyranny and oppression of Egyptian taskmasters
over the Jews, spoken of in the Book of Exodus.
This very important work proved a great success,
and gained for the artist a considerable measure of
admiration and applause. The masterly qualities
of this work were fully equalled in his next year's
picture, The Catapult, a subject of intense interest,
representing the arts of war as practised by the
ancient Romans, and the comparison thereby sug-
gested in the working of their cumbrous pieces of
siege-artillery with the polished engines of destruc-
vivid and striking conception carefully considered
to its minutest details.
In that year (1868) and the two following, Mr.
Poynter was engaged on decorative work. It was
during this period that his designs were made for
the architectural and tile decorations since carried
out on the walls of the Grill Room, South Kens-
ington Museum, the large panels round the room
having figures typical of the months of the year.
At the suggestion of Sir Henry Cole, a two months'
visit to Italy was paid by Mr. Poynter in order to
7
tions to a new Bible which Messrs. Dalziel pro-
posed to publish ; but this undertaking was never
carried out. Other leading artists, amongst whom
were Sir F. Leighton, Sir J. Millais, and Mr. Ford
Madox Brown, were also employed on the work, and
some of these blocks are collected and shown with
other work of the kind at South Kensington
Museum. In 1867, having again chosen a subject
dealing with Egyptian life, Mr. Poynter produced
his great picture, Israel in Egypt, representing the
tion of modern days. Every part of this picture
carries interest, from the upper portion, where the
soldier in shadow is fixing the javelin, with figures
of the besieged on the ramparts seen through the
opening; to the group of nude soldiers below in
their admirable poses of vigorous action, pulling
down the huge arm while exposed to their opponents'
arrows; the captain and his legions behind, and in
the distance the battering-ram, with other appli-
ances for carrying on a siege. The whole forms a
SELECTION'S FROM THE DESIGN'S FOR "THE FOUR SEASONS " AND "THE FOUR ELEMENTS"
BY E. J. POYNTER, R.A.
tyranny and oppression of Egyptian taskmasters
over the Jews, spoken of in the Book of Exodus.
This very important work proved a great success,
and gained for the artist a considerable measure of
admiration and applause. The masterly qualities
of this work were fully equalled in his next year's
picture, The Catapult, a subject of intense interest,
representing the arts of war as practised by the
ancient Romans, and the comparison thereby sug-
gested in the working of their cumbrous pieces of
siege-artillery with the polished engines of destruc-
vivid and striking conception carefully considered
to its minutest details.
In that year (1868) and the two following, Mr.
Poynter was engaged on decorative work. It was
during this period that his designs were made for
the architectural and tile decorations since carried
out on the walls of the Grill Room, South Kens-
ington Museum, the large panels round the room
having figures typical of the months of the year.
At the suggestion of Sir Henry Cole, a two months'
visit to Italy was paid by Mr. Poynter in order to
7